COIMBATORE: Traffic on the Coimbatore-Palakkad inter-state highway was paralyzed for more than three hours on Monday morning after irate residents blocked vehicles at Mayilkal check-post near Madukkarai demanding measures to ease the growing man-animal conflict in the area. The protest, in which more than 1000 residents participated was a spontaneous reaction to the death of a 30-year-old hotel worker who was trampled by a wild tusker at Arivozhi Nagar late on Monday night.

The protest began at around 7 am and traffic resumed only after the intervention of Revenue Divisional Officer S Santhakumar, Thondamuthur MLA S P Velumani and District Forest Officer V Thirunavukarasu. They promised to erect electric fences separating forests and human settlements and construct elephant proof trenches as a permanent solution. Hundreds of vehicles were stranded between Madukkarai and Ukkadam due to the protest.

Large scale encroachments in the traditional pathways of elephants are being cited as a major reason for the growing human-animal conflict in the region. The construction boom in neighbouring Kovaipudur and Ettimadai, violating land use patterns and encroaching upon elephant corridors, is another contributing factor. Allegations of massive encroachment on traditional migratory paths by leading educational institutions and real estate promoters also invite such conflict. S Guruvayurappan, project officer of Wildlife Protection Society of India says that forest authorities must take the initiative to get the rail track that passes through the Madukarai-Walayar jungle shifted.

After the jumbo attack on CRPF officials, the forest department has denied permission for jungle warfare training inside the Madukarai forests. According to Guruvayurappan, there are about seven elephant migratory passages between Madukkarai and Palakkad. As it has been a traditional elephant corridor, herds do not disturb human settlements. But when passages are blocked or disrupted by man-made intrusions, the animals become violent. So the department must be very cautious," says Guruvayurappan.